Storm attachment for high line tools



March 30, 1948. D, C, HUBBARD 2,438,504

STORM ATTACHMENT FOR HIGH LINE TOOLS Filed Nov. 25, 1944 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 3 0, 1948 STORM ATTACHMENT FOR HIGH LINE TOOLS David C.Hubbard, Centrala, Mo., assigner to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia,Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 23, 1944, Serial No.564,845

a claims. 1

The present invention relates to storm attachments for high tensionlines, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an attachmentadapted to be used upon the so-called universal tools for high tensionlines so that such tools may be used with assured safety when it israining.

Such high line tools are already provided in many dierent forms and ofsuch structure that they are adapted to be attached to a single pole,which is commonly called a universal pole. The poles are usually made ofwell dried, laminated spruce, which is carefully selected, and which isvarnished with a varnish having electrical insulating characteristics,but the ordinary poles of the prior art are not safe to use in the rainbecause the water running down the pole is apt to cause a short circuitto ground through the operator.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improvedattachment adapted to be interposed between the tool end of a so-calleduniversal pole and any one of a multiplicity of different types of toolsthat may be used on high tension lines, the attachment being adapted toprovide adequate insulation, even when it is rain- 111g.

Another object of the invention is th'e provision of an improvedattachment of the class described, which is relatively simple and smallso that it may be carried in the tool boX with the tools and so that itis unnecessary to provide a special storm pole or special storm toolsfor work under rainy conditions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedattachment of the class described which is sturdy and adapted towithstand the abuse to which it is apt to be subjected when carried in alinemans tool box, and which is `adapted to be manufactured at a lowcost so that it may be widely used in the trade.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedattachment -ior effecting insulation of tools for high tension lines ofall kinds, even when the tool is being used under rainy conditions. v

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings, in which similar charactersof reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Fig. 1, this is a fragmentary elevational view showing theend of a universal pole for tools for high tension lines in connectionwith an attachment embodying my invention and one form of tool;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the storm attachment of Fig. 1showing it apart from the tool and pole, in partial section, to revealits structure;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view taken from the 2 right side of Fig. 2,showing the attaching fixture which is utilized at the bottom of theattachment;

Fig, 4 is a side elevational view in partial section on the plane of theline 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the attaching fixture which is utilized atthe top of the storm attachment.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, i0 indicates in its entirety a so-calleduniversal pole of the type which may be utilized with' a multiplicity ofdifferent tools, one of which is indicated in its entirety by thenumeral I I. The storm attachment, which is the subject of the presentinvention, is interposed between the pole I5 .and tool Il, and isindicated by the numeral I2.

The storm attachment I2 comprises a wooden pole, preferably round, whichmay be relatively short in length, such as, for example, in one case thepole is one and one-fourth inches in diameter and substantially iifteeninches long.

This pole, which is indicated by the numeral I3, is, like the pole I4 ofthe member Iii, constructed of laminated spruce, and treated and testedto withstand 75,000 volts per foot for five minutes. The wood iscarefully dried, and after yall moisture is removed it may be coveredwith' an electrically insulating varnish to exclude the moisture an-d toimprove its insulating characteristics still further.

At its upper end the pole I3 is preferably provided with a standarduniversal pole fixture I5, which is of substantially the same structureas the universal pole iixture I6 that is carried by the end of theuniversal pole IIJ. These two fixtures I5 and I6 are preferably made ofcast metal, such as high strength bronze, and the x- I ture has asubstantially cylindrical body Il provided with .a cylindrical socketI8.

The cylindrical socket h-as a ti-ght frictional fit on the cylindricalend of the pole i3, where the fixture is pinned by means of a transverserivet I9, which passes through the holes 20 in the sleeve-like body I1and in the end oi the pole I3.

The upper end 2I of the body I'l is closed, and at one side the fixtureI5 is provided with an axially projecting neck or column 22, which maytaper upwardly to a substantially circular attaching flange 23. Theattaching ange 23 is provided with an engaging face 24 that has acentrally located threaded bore 25 for receiving the clamping screw bolt26.

The screw bolt 26 is preferably of the type adapted to be actuated bythe fingers, having a circular head 21, with an annular clamping surface28, and the head is provided with a flat nger-engaging portion 29.

The engaging face 24 of the column 22 is preferably provided with amultiplicity of radially extending lugs 30, separated by grooves 3I. Inthis respect the engaging surface 24 is substan- 3 tially complementaryto the engaging face 32 of the attaching flange 53.0n the tool I I.

The attaching flange 35 on the tool Il is a substantially circularfiangeprovided with an axially inwardly extending slot 34 located in itsend and extending inward past its. center, where.

it terminates in a cylindrical end wall 55. Slot 35 is adapted toreceive the shank of the bolt, 25, and the flange 33 is preferablyprovided with a plane thrust surface 55 on the sideo'pposite to theengaging face 32.

The thrust surface 36 is engaged by the annular shoulder 28 on the head21 of bolt 2S. As distinguished from the lugs 30 on the fixture I5,which lugs are preferably substantially rectangular in elevation, thelugs 31 on the attaching flange 33 of tool II are of substantially thesame shape as the grooves 3l, to which they are complementary. The lugs31 are separated by grooves 38, which are complementary to the lugs 30on the fixture l5.

The lugs and grooves on both of these engaging faces may obviously bechanged in form considerably as long as they are adapted to interlockand prevent relative rotation between the attaching flange 33 of thetool and the attaching flange 23 of the xture.

Thus, the tool II may be placed on the fixture I5, the slot Slireceiving the bolt 25, and the attaching flange 33 being clamped againstthe attaching flange 23 by the annular surface 23 of the bolt when thebolt is driven home in a clockwise direction.

The tool II is merely exemplary of a form of screw clamp which isadapted to be used for the end of a link stick, that is, a stick whichis used to support a line conductor after the conductor has been removedor released from its insulator. Thus, the attaching liange 33 of thistool iscarried by a threaded shank 39, which is located in a threadedbore in the clamp body dIlso that the head il may be moved toward thehook-like formation 42 on the clamp i0 to engage and hold a lineconductor or some other energized part.

The present storm attachment, like universal poles, may be utilized fora vast number of different types of tools, such as, for. example,wrenches, chucks, screw drivers, brushes, hooks, cotter key tools, tiestick heads, clampstick heads, fuse pullers, saws, mirrors, disconnects,wire tong heads, knives, splicing tools, etc.

The opposite end of the pole I3 of the attachment I2 is provided with afixture li3, having a similar body member I1 provided withabore I8 and aclosed end 2l and secured on the pole by a similar rivet I9. In thiscase, however, the axially projecting column 22, which is located on oneside of the end 2 I, has an attaching flange efig'which is similar inshape and structure to the attaching flange 33 previously described.

It differs from the attaching flange 23 in that it has a slot 3dextending'axially into the flange d5 instead of the threaded bore 25for. receiving the screw bolt 26, as in the case of the iixture I5. Inother words, the lower fitting d3 has its attaching ange like the lowerend of .a tool II, The fixture I5 may be identical in structure with thexture IIS that is used on the upper end of the universal pole l0, towhich the fitting I6., is secured in the same way previously described.

.Y The length of the pole I-may obviously be as long as is necessary tomake the pole suitable for the voltage on which the operator is going tou se it. Therefore, the pole isshown broken offat its lower end so thatits length is indeterminate.

Thus, the fixture 43 is adapted to be secured to the fixture I6 of theuniversal pole I0, while the fixture I5 is adapted to be secured to thesupporting iiange of any suitable type of tool. 5 The pole I3 of theattachment I2 is preferably provided with. a plurality of insulatingskirts e5, t6. In the embodiment illustrated, two such Skirts are shown,but obviously, one, two, three, m four, live, six, or any number of suchskirts may 10 be employed, Twosuch skirts are considered suicient for`an attachment to be used upon high tension linesunder rainy conditions,when the ,lines carry 22,000 volts.

The skirts 45, 56 may be identical, and they are preferably constructedof soft, resilient, flexible,

non-porous rubber. Each skirt has a centrally( located supporting sleeved6, which has a bore i8 of slightly smaller size than the pole I3, whichit is intended to receive, so that it is adapted to have a tightfrictional grip on the pole.

The sleeve 46 may taper downwardly and may be provided with a planeannular surface l0 atits upper end, Awhere it is integrally attachedv toand supportsV a depending frusto-conical skirt 50.

The skirt 50 extends downwardly and outwardly and may terminate in thesubstantially cylindrical outer edge 52, both of which are spacedconsiderably from the outer surface of .thepole I3.

The two skirt members i5 and lie are preferably'spaced from each otherbya substantial dis.-

tance, and the pole I3 between them is preferably covered-with aprotective sleeve 53 of .p-henolic resin tubing, which fitstightlyagainst the external surface of the pole I3. l

As an example vof the spacing, sleeveA 53. between the skirt membersIE5, E may be substantially six inches long. Anotherv'such sleeve 5dextends downwardly fromk the lower edge of.- the supporting 'sleeve:'41- of skirt member 35. and

40 abuts against the sleeve I1 of the fixture d3.

Another such insulating sleeve, indicatedY at 55, extends upwardly from'the top e9 of. uppermost skirt member 5to the .bottom ofxture i5.

The phenolic resin tubing ris nonhydrosoopicin characteristics, and` alljoints. between. fixtures and sleeves and. skirtV rnembersare preferablysealedwith a suitablevarnish or othery suitable electrical insulatingmaterial so that. the. dry wood of the pole I3..wil1.never increaseitslow moisture content, although theY tool is used in the rain.

If desired, the entire. attachment may becov.- ered. with. a water.repellent by. means ofv which water will be causedto form indrops whichwill quickly run off and never wet the attachment overall.

The electrically insulating hoods or skirts l5 are adapted to break upany water stream causedby rain, andto. maintaina dry portion of theSleeves 53 and 5d underneath the, hoods so that there will not be adirect wet path from the liveend of the tool tov the handle along` whichthe electricity may travel. Dry areas will beinterposed between theportionsthat arewet, thus impeding the flow of current underallgconditions Vand substantially preventing theV owof'current underpredetermined. conditions for which the attachment is constructed.

t will thus be observedthatl have invented 0 an improved stormattachment by means of which insulating pclesand-tools maybeused toperform. certainnecessary. operations4 in therain,

without having to resort to a special tool set for rainy work.Thevadaptability of thisstorm attachment to use with universal` polesandtools represents a great saving to the user and greatliT reduces thespace required on the truck for storm tools.

Several of these storm adapters of different characteristics may be keptin a small compartment for use with standard tools, whenever the needarises.

'In some embodiments of the invention the insulating skirt members maybe constructed out of nonhygroscopic, water repellent, heat moldableplastics of electrical insulating characteristics, but the resilient,bendable, natural rubber or various types of synthetic rubbers, arepreferred because of the tendency to resist breakage; and if de-formedin being packed away under pressure, the skirts naturally come back totheir proper form when the tool is removed from the box.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a storm attachment for high line tools, the combination of awooden insulating pole of substantially cylindrical shape having a metaltting at one end adapted to be used for attaching any of a plurality ofdifferent tools, said f1tting comprising a ferrule xedly secured on thepole and an axially extending partially circular ange having a threadedbore provided with a clamping screw bolt, a complementary fittingcarried by the other end of the pole, including a metallic ferrule andan axially extending slotted flange of partially circular shape adaptedto receive the clamping screw bolt of a tool supporting pole having afitting similar to the first-mentioned fitting, the said wooden polebeing provided with a plurality of self-draining insulating skirts ofresilient bendable material, each skirt having a substantiallyfrusto-conical depending portion and an integral tubular collar having atight frictional grip on said pole, that portion of the pole above saidskirts being provided with an insulating covering whereby thesaidattachment may be utilized on line poles to hold tools in wetweather without substantial danger of leakage of electricity along thepole due to the dry gaps provided beneath said skirts.

2. In a tool for manipulation of energized high tension line toolsduring wet weather, the combination of an elongated insulating woodenpole with a removable storm attachment for said pole, said insulatingpole and storm attachment being provided with complementary angularlyadjustable securing means at their adjacent ends, whereby 'they may besecured together for use of tools with a storm attachment, said stormattachment having at its other end a line tool, said line tool and stormattachment being secured together by complementary angularly adjustablesecuring means, and said storm attachment comprising an insulatingwooden pole extending between the securing means on Said stormattachment, and being provided intermediate its length, beginning at its`outer end with an insulating and moisture-resistant sleeve coveringsaid wooden pole, said sleeve extending to and abutting against aresilient, deformable, and

unbreakable sleeve having a tight frictional lt on said wooden pole ofsaid storm attachment, and having extending downwardly and outwardlytherefrom a frusto-conical skirt, said skirt causing moisture whichgathers thereon to be drained outwardly from the outer edge thereof, andsaid skirt maintaining a dry condition of the adjacent pole under theskirt, whereby the tool may be safely used during wet weather uponenergized conductors of predetermined energization.

3. In a tool for manipulation of energized high tension line toolsduring wet weather, the combination of an elongated insulating woodenpole with a removable storm attachment for said Dole, said insulatingpole and storm attachment being provided with complementary angularlyadjustable securing means at their adjacent ends, whereby they may besecured together for use of tools with a storm attachment, said stormattachment having at its other end a line tool, said line tool and stormattachment being secured together by complementary angularly adjustablesecuring means, and said storm attachment comprising an insulatingwooden pole extending between the securing means on said stormattachment, and being provided intermediate its length, beginning at itsouter end with an insulating and moisture-resistant sleeve covering saidwooden pole, said sleeve extending to and abutting against a resilient,deformable, and unbreakable sleeve having a tight frictional fit on saidwooden pole of said storm attachment, and having extending downwardlyand outwardly therefrom a frusto-conical skirt, said skirt causingmoisture which gathers thereon tc be drained outwardly from the outeredge thereof, and said skirt maintaining a dry condition of the adjacentpole under the skirt, and a second resilient, deformable sleeve having atight frictional fit on the same wooden pole and having its downwardlyand outwardly extending frusto-conical skirt located below thefirst-mentioned skirt to provide a second dry area on the same poleunder said second skirt for a factor of safety, whereby the tool may besafely used during wet weather upon energized conductors ofpredetermined energization.

DAVID C. HUBBARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 881,684 Hayden Mar. 10, 19081,045,679 Cronin Nov 26, 1912 1,282,653 Thompson Oct. 22, 1918 1,862,388Blackwell et al. Dec. 14, 1920 1,840,150 Bodendieck Jan. 5, 19321,946,239 Ryan Feb. 6, 1934 1,994,938 Bott Mar. 19, 1935 2,194,411Tipsord Mar. 19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 420,398 GreatBritain Nov. 30, 1934 662,160 France Mar. 18, 1929 OTHER REFERENCES TipsTool Co., Inc., Taylorville, Ill., Catalog No. 6, June 1, 1933, pages 32and 33. (Copy in Div. 65.)

